F1 Today | Verstappen reacts to Nordschleife outing, Russell rests

Earlier this morning, Mercedes announced that the British driver would not take part in Thursday’s Baku media day.

The German team confirmed that the driver had been feeling unwell and was resting to be at his best for later in the day, when the first two practice sessions of the weekend took place.

The team also announced that Kimi Antonelli would have replaced his teammate in that morning’s FIA press conference.

The Brit is coming off a fifth-place finish at last weekend’s Monza Grand Prix, a race in which Mercedes struggled to match the pace of Max Verstappen and the two McLarens in the fight for the podium.

Verstappen, who drew most of the attention with his appearance at Round 7 of the NLS competition at the Nordschleife, was asked about his run at the iconic ‘Green Hell’ during his media session at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The four-time world champion also discussed several other highlights from the event, where he secured his permit. This means he can now compete using GT3 cars.

The Red Bull Racing driver also revealed that, beyond Formula 1, his ultimate dream is to compete in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring endurance race.

When asked about the licensing process he went through, Verstappen praised everyone involved and noted how smoothly everything had gone over the weekend.

He wrapped up by addressing speculation about the possibility of completing motorsport’s Triple Crown. While the Red Bull driver said he would be open to racing at Le Mans, he was quick to rule out a shot at the Indy 500.